Control and evaluation system for a compound sensor

ABSTRACT

A control/evaluation system  1  for a set of sensors, in particular in motor vehicles  11 , has a plurality of areas  2, 3, 4 , each of which has at least one controller  5  and a plurality of sensor devices  6  connected thereto; the controllers  5  may be connected to each other for a common application function.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a control/evaluation system for a set of sensors, in particular in motor vehicles.

[0002] Although applicable to any means of transport, the present invention and the problems underlying it are explained in reference to a system located on board a motor vehicle.

[0003] To make traveling with a motor vehicle easier and to prevent collisions with a car or other objects in the way so as to protect the occupants, it is known to place sensors on the front and/or rear of the motor vehicle, the sensors emitting signals in order to receive the signals reflected by the obstacle. The distance between the sensor located on the motor vehicle and the obstacle is determined from the time it takes the signal to travel from the sensor to the obstacle and back again. To register the objects, in particular to measure the distance, a great variety of devices are known, operating for example on the basis of radar, lasers or ultrasound. Ultrasound sensors come into play in particular at close range, because of their very high resolution.

[0004] A device for registering objects, in particular as a parking assistance device in a motor vehicle, is described in German Patent Application 199 01 847 A1. Here all of the distance sensors are connected to a single microcontroller and an output unit.

[0005] Where all sensors are connected to a common controller, it has been found to be disadvantageous that the controller must be configured for maximum possible capacity in order to possibly allow upgrading, even if only some areas of the vehicle are equipped with sensors at the moment. Thus for customer-oriented equipping of the motor vehicle with sensors only in certain areas, the use of a universal, maximally configured controller is expensive and excessively complicated technically.

[0006] Furthermore, in most cases such a system is not equipped for functional expansion with sophisticated algorithms and functions.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore in general to create a control/evaluation system for a set of sensors, which may be optimized for the specific user and application with respect to costs and technical complexity.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The control/evaluation system according to the present invention, having the features of Claim 1, has the advantage over the known systems that in the event that the motor vehicle is initially not completely equipped with sensors, a system appropriately adapted to the particular requirements may be used. This is both more cost-effective and involves less installation effort because less cabling is used. In addition, the system according to the present invention is easily upgradable using little technical effort. The great flexibility in development provides for quicker response to market requirements and easier provision of variants.

[0009] The idea underlying the present invention is that the control/evaluation system is divided into multiple areas, each area having at least one controller and a plurality of sensor devices connected thereto, the controllers being capable of being combined with each other for a common application function.

[0010] The controlling and evaluation by the sensor system in the surroundings are distributed over certain sub-areas of the motor vehicle, resulting in the creation of independently operating systems having an optimized device configuration, which however may be interconnected for communication.

[0011] The sub-claims contain advantageous refinements of and improvements on the control/evaluation system recited in Claim 1.

[0012] According to one preferred refinement, the controllers for the individual areas may be interconnected through a bus system. This ensures simple and cost-effective communication of the individual controllers with each other.

[0013] According to another preferred refinement, the sensor devices for an area may be connected to the corresponding controller through a bus system or a point-to-point connection.

[0014] According to another preferred refinement, the controllers are all of identical design. This is advantageous from both the manufacturing and the economic points of view.

[0015] According to another preferred refinement, at least one sensor device within a particular area may be integrated into the corresponding controller. These two elements are thus combined into a one-piece sensor/controller device. This sensor/controller device handles both the generation of its own sensor signal and the control/evaluation function.

[0016] According to another preferred refinement, the sensor/controller devices for the individual areas may be connected to each other though a bus system for a common application function. This produces in effect a reliable and inexpensive communication system.

[0017] According to another preferred refinement, the sensor devices for an area may be connected to the corresponding sensor/controller device through a bus system or a point-to-point connection.

[0018] According to another preferred refinement, in the particular area the sensor/controller device is modified only minimally compared to the multiple sensor devices. Hence they differ advantageously only through differences in component configuration, which contributes to additional cost reduction.

[0019] According to another preferred refinement, the sensor devices are of identical design. This too is advantageous in regard to manufacturing technology, and hence is cost-effective.

[0020] According to another preferred refinement, the sensor devices are designed as close-range sensors.

[0021] According to another preferred refinement, the system is divided into at least one of the following areas: front area, rear area, side area and/or corner area. It is also conceivable for the side area to be further subdivided into a left and a right side area.

[0022] According to another preferred refinement, an area has a maximum of six sensor devices. This has proven especially beneficial for optimized design of the individual sub-systems. However, a different number of sensors is of course also conceivable.

[0023] According to another preferred refinement, the controllers for the individual areas are equipped with uniform software, which may include in particular parameterization for assigning the particular controller.

DRAWINGS

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawing and explained in greater detail in the following description.

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system in a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system in a motor vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system in a motor vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system in a motor vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0029]FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system in a motor vehicle according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In the figures, matching reference symbols designate matching or functionally equivalent components.

[0031]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system 1 which is mounted in a motor vehicle 11. In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, control/evaluation system 1 is subdivided into three sub-areas 2, 3, 4, sub-area 2 being intended for registering objects in front of the motor vehicle, sub-area 3 for registering objects behind motor vehicle 11, and sub-area 4 for registering objects beside motor vehicle 11.

[0032] Sub-area 4 may of course be further subdivided into a right and a left area, or the system may be divided into entirely different sub-areas.

[0033] According to the first embodiment, each area 2, 3, 4 has a controller 5 for controlling and evaluating the sensor signals, and three sensors 6 connected to controller 5 to emit a signal and receive the reflected signal.

[0034] According to the first embodiment, sensors 6 are connected to the assigned controller 5 through a point-to-point connection 10. The individual controllers 5 in turn are connected for comprehensive functions via a network, for example the real-time-capable serial “Controller Area Network” bus system (CAN). System 1 is divided into the individual sub-areas, depending on requirements. For parking assistance, for example, it may be useful to install only areas 2 and 3 in the particular motor vehicle. In the case of a pre-crash or stop-and-go application, for example, it is only necessary to install sensors in the front of the motor vehicle, i.e. to configure only sub-area 2. Sensors 6 within a sub-area 2, 3, 4 are controlled and/or evaluated jointly by controller 5. Controllers 5 may also have the function of providing jointly regulated voltage and producing a diagnosis of the momentary status of the motor vehicle.

[0035] Advantageously, all controllers 5 of a system 1 are of identical design and include the same functional possibilities and the same software. They may vary, however, in regard to processor performance and in activating different displays. Optionally, assignment of the particular controller through parameterization is possible using the software of controllers 5, in the form of end-of-tape programming.

[0036] For example, in this way a controller may be assigned to a particular area 2, 3, 4 or to a particular sensor device 6, and thus eliminate certain unnecessary program steps.

[0037] The individual controllers 5 that are connected to each other though bus system 8 thus form a total control/evaluation system 1, which analyzes the overall status of motor vehicle 11 with respect to its environment on the basis of individual sub-areas 2, 3, 4 and initiates suitable measures as appropriate in interaction with additional controllers or display devices. These may include, for example, an acoustic or optical warning signal in a parking assistance device when the distance falls below a certain safety value, deployment of an airbag in a pre-crash function, etc. This higher-level functionality results from the interaction of individual controllers 5 through common bus system 8. Information from multiple sub-areas is consolidated by control devices 12 of the- particular applications.

[0038]FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, individual sensors 6 of a sub-area 2, 3, 4 are also connected to corresponding controller 5 through a bus connection 9.

[0039] An overall bus system may also be provided, which ensures a connection both between the sensors of an area and between the controllers or to control devices of other functions, such as a pre-crash function.

[0040] The other components and particular functions correspond to those of the first embodiment, and therefore require no further explanation. The same is true of embodiments 3 through 5, explained in greater detail below.

[0041]FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where controller 5 and a sensor 6 are combined in each area 2, 3, 4 in such a way that in addition to providing its own sensor signal the unit also takes over the controller function for the sub-areas, resulting in a sensor/controller device 7 as a one-piece component. This results in the saving of one component, producing a more cost-effective, more compact and space-saving system.

[0042] The other sensors 6 in the corresponding sub-areas 2, 3, 4 according to the third embodiment are connected to sensor/controller device 7 through a point-to-point connection 10. The particular sensor/controller devices 7 are connected with each other for higher-level functions through a bus system 8. This is analogous in principle to the embodiments illustrated earlier.

[0043] It is likewise conceivable for the functions of a controller to be distributed not to one sensor 6 but to a plurality of sensors 6; i.e. certain supply functions and bus concepts are also shifted to the other sensors. It is advantageous however for the main computing load to be accommodated in one sensor.

[0044] Advantageously, the particular sensor/controller devices 7 are of identical design for reasons of manufacturing technology, and are modified only minimally compared to sensor devices 6. This modification is limited for example to a higher processor capacity and different connections. The remaining sensor devices 6 in turn are advantageously designed identically to each other.

[0045]FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the third embodiment, sensor devices 6 of an area 2, 3, 4 are connected to the corresponding sensor/controller device 7 through an appropriate bus system 9. This produces a simple system which is adaptable to the particular requirements. Controller devices 12 for particular functions, such as deployment of an airbag, display of certain information, etc., are connected to relevant sensor/controller devices 7 through a network system.

[0046]FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a control/evaluation system 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein sensors 6 are connected within an area 2, 3, 4 to the appropriately assigned sensor/controller device 7 in each case via a private sensor network system. Communication between the individual sensor/controller devices 7 is established via a data network system 8 which is situated at a higher level. In that way, comprehensive functions are implemented.

[0047] Thus controlling actions and evaluations which apply to the individual areas 2, 3, 4 are carried out by the appropriately assigned sensor/controller device 7, the communication with sensors 6 being conducted over private sensor network system 9. On the other hand, higher-level functions which are to be carried out based on the evaluations of the individual areas 2, 3, 4 as a whole, are carried out via the higher-level data network system 8.

[0048] The present invention creates a system in which, depending on the desired functionality, only the necessary areas need to be installed in the corresponding motor vehicle. That results in cost scalability; i.e., incomplete equipment only slightly more than is actually needed is installed, with clear cabling. Even so, an expansion or complete equipment may be realized later if needed.

[0049] In addition, defects which arise may be delimited better, and only appropriate areas removed briefly from the overall operation. More advanced independent development of the individual applications than in the case of only one central system is also possible.

[0050] Although the present invention was described above on the basis of a preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto but may be modified in many ways.

[0051] In particular, the division of the individual areas may be selected arbitrarily and depending on the application. For example, placing sensors in corner areas is also conceivable. Furthermore, any number of sensors may of course be utilized in a particular area. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A control/evaluation system (1) for a set of sensors, in particular in motor vehicles, having a plurality of areas (2, 3, 4) each of which has at least one controller (5) and a plurality of sensor devices (6) connected to it, the controllers (5) being connectable to one another for a common application function.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controllers (5) for the individual areas (2, 3, 4) are connectable to each other via a bus system (8).
 3. The system as recited in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the sensor devices (6) for an area (2, 3, 4) are connectable to the corresponding controller (5) via a bus system (9) or a point-to-point connection (10).
 4. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the controllers (5) are all of identical design.
 5. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one sensor device (6) may be integrated into a controller (5), and together with it forms a sensor/controller device (7).
 6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the sensor/controller devices (7) for the individual areas (2, 3, 4) are connectable to one another through a bus system (8) for a common application function.
 7. The system as recited in one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the sensor devices (6) for an area (2, 3, 4) are connectable to the corresponding sensor/controller device (7) via a bus system (9) or a point-to-point connection (10).
 8. The system as recited in one of claim 5 or 6, wherein the sensor/controller device (7) in the particular area (2, 3, 4) is modified only minimally from the plurality of sensor devices (6).
 9. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor devices (6) are of identical design.
 10. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor devices (6) are designed as close-range sensors.
 11. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized by division into at least one of the following areas: front area (2), rear area (3), side area (4) and/or corner area.
 12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the side area (4) may be subdivided in to a left and a right side area.
 13. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein an area has up to six sensor devices (6).
 14. The system as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the controllers (5) of the individual areas (2, 3, 4) are equipped with uniform software, which may include in particular parameterization for assigning the corresponding controller. 